Golfer training device

ABSTRACT

A golfer training device includes a sensor, a feedback output device configured to output a feedback and a processor in communication with the sensor and the feedback output device. The processor is configured to instruct the feedback output device to output the feedback when the sensor is in close proximity to either an elbow or chin of a golfer.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application61/044,996, filed Apr. 15, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to sports training devices and more specificallyto sports training devices for golf.

2. Description of the Known Technology

Golfing is a sport that requires a significant amount of finesse. As agolfer swings at a golf ball, even the slightest variation in thegolfer's swing can affect the distance and direction the ball travels.As it is well known, golfers spend significant amount of time using anyresources to improve their performance.

It has been observed that golfers, especially untrained golfers, whileattempting to hit the ball, struggle to produce a proper and effectiveswing path. On the backswing there is a tendency to not make a suitablefull shoulder turn, and on the downswing there is a tendency foruntrained golfers to go “over the top.” An “rover the top” swing is aswing from the outside to the inside of the target line. Finally, thereis a tendency to not finish the full swing cycle by completely followingthe swing through.

Prior art solutions are generally limited to personal trainers orcumbersome training devices that are not suitable for everyday use.Additionally, because these prior art devices are not suitable foreveryday use, golfers, especially untrained golfers, do not receive theconstant feedback necessary to develop a proper golf swing. Therefore,there is a need for a system and method for training golfers tocorrectly swing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In satisfying the above need, as well as overcoming the enumerateddrawbacks and other limitations of the known technology, the presentinvention provides a golfer training device. The golfer training deviceincludes a sensor, a feedback output device configured to output afeedback and a processor in communication with the sensor and thefeedback output device. The processor is configured to instruct thefeedback output device to output the feedback when the sensor is inclose proximity to either an elbow or chin of a golfer.

Further objects, features and advantages of this invention will becomereadily apparent to persons skilled in the art after a review of thefollowing description, with reference to the drawings and claims thatare appended to and form a part of this specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a training device;

FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded view of the training device;

FIG. 2 illustrates an electrical schematic of the training device;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a golfer utilizing the training device;

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the golfer utilizing the trainingdevice near the beginning of a swing cycle;

FIG. 5 is perspective view of a golfer using the training device midwaythrough the swing cycle; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a golfer using the training devicecompleting the swing cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an assembled view (FIG. 1A) anddisassembled view (FIG. 1B) of a training device 10 is shown. It shouldbe understood that the training device 10 may be sized and shaped so asto better fit on the hip of the golfer or the shoulders of the golfer,as will be shown and described in the paragraphs that follow. Here, thetraining device 10 includes a housing 30 containing a variety ofelectronic components 14 which will be described in more detail later inthis description and in FIG. 2.

The housing 12 defines a cavity 16 wherein the electronic components 14are located. Below the housing 12, opposite of the cavity 16, is a backplate 18 attached to a backside 20 of the housing 12. The back plate 18generally includes an attachment device 22, opposite of the housing 12,the attachment device 22 may be any device capable of attaching thetraining device 10 to the clothing of a person. For example, theattachment device 22 may be a pin or may be a belt buckle clip.

Attached to the housing 12, opposite of the back plate 18, is a contactplate 24. The contact plate 24 is fixed in such a way as to allowlimited relative motion between itself and housing 12. The movement ofcontact plate 24 closes an electric switch when the contact plate 24.The electronic components 14 can be configured such that when thecontact plate 24 is actuated, a form of feedback, such as an audiblenoise from a speaker or physical vibration from a vibrator will occur.This feedback provides instant feedback regarding if the golfer isproperly swinging a golf club. Of course, it should be understood thatthe contact plate 24 is only one form of contact detection. The contactplate 24 may be replaced with any suitable contact sensor or may bereplaced with a proximity sensor. Of course, it should be understoodthat more than one sensor may be utilized as appropriate.

Referring to FIG. 2 an electrical diagram of the electronic components14 is shown. It is noted that the electronic components 32 include apower switch 26 and a feedback selector switch 28. It should beunderstood that the power switch 34 and a feedback selector switch 28may be combined into a single three position switch 30 (See FIG. 1) withsettings such as “off,” “on-buzzer,” and “on-vibrate.”

The power switch 28 turns the training device 10 on or off. The feedbackselector switch 28 selects the form of feedback, such as audile feedbackor physical feedback. Audible feedback is outputted by a buzzer 32,while physical feedback is outputted by a vibrator 34. When the threeposition switch is set to “off” —the device 10 will be off. When thethree position switch is set to “on-buzzer”—the device 10 will be on andthe switch 28 will be set to operate the buzzer 32. When the threeposition switch is set to “on-vibrate”—the device 10 will be on and theswitch 28 will be set to operate the vibrator 34.

The electronic components 14 also include a 555 timer 40. When thecontact plate 24 of the training device 10 is actuated, the switch 42will be closed. When the switch 42 is closed, the 555 timer 40 sends asignal to the output devices to either provide a buzz or a vibrationbased on the feedback selection switch 28. As it is well known in theart, the 555 timer 40 can be configured to output a signal to the buzzer32 or vibrator 34 for a preset period of time at a preset frequency.This preset period of time and frequency can be adjusted by adjustingthe values of capacitor C1 and resistors R1 and R2. Of course, it shouldbe understood that the 555 timer 40 can be replaced with one or moreprocessors.

Referring to FIG. 3, a golfer 50 is preparing to swing at the golf ball52 using a club 54. In this embodiment, there are three training devices10 a-10 c. The training devices 10 a-10 c are like those described inthe previous paragraphs as training device 10. The training device 10 ais located on or near the right hip of the golfer 50. It should beunderstood that the golfer 50 is a right handed golfer. If the golfer 50was a left handed golfer the training device 10 a would be placed on theleft hip of the golfer 50.

The training devices 10 b and 10 c are located on or near the right andleft shoulders, respectively, of the golfer 50. The training devices 10a-10 c can be attached to the golfer 10 by any one of a number of ways.Generally, training device 10 a has a clip that attaches to the belt ofthe golfer, and devices 10 b and 10 c have either pins or magnetic holdsthat allow the devices to fasten to the shoulder area of the shirt orjacket of the golfer 50. However, any suitable means for attaching thetraining devices 10 a-10 c to the golfer 50 can be utilized, includingadhesives, specially made clothes for the golfer 50 integrating thetraining devices 10 a-10 b, Velcro or even a common clothes pin.

FIG. 4 shows the golfer 50 preparing to hit the ball 52. Here, thegolfer 50 raises the golf club 54 above the golfer 50. It is noted thatas the golfer 50 performs a backswing, which places the golf club 54above the golfer 50, the training device 10 c comes into close proximityto the chin 58 of the golfer 50.

As described previously, the training devices 10 a-10 c are proximityand/or mechanical devices that are activated upon close or actualcontact and will provide a form of feedback to the golfer 50. Generally,the training devices 10 a-10 c can determine that they are within closeproximity and/or actual contact to another object because the contactplate 24, shown in FIG. 1, will be actuated by the other objects.

As stated before, this feedback may be audible or a physical, such asvibration. When the chin 58 of the golfer 50 is proximate to thetraining device 10 c, the training device 10 c will provide a form offeedback to the golfer 50. Generally, when the golfer 50 is positionedas shown in FIG. 4, the shoulder is in the proper position relative tothe chin 58 of the golfer. As it is apparent, the shoulder of the golfermoves to the chin 58 of the golfer coming into close proximity and/or incontact with the training device 10 c and the training device 16 cprovides feedback to the golfer 50 indicating to the golfer 50 that theshoulder of the golfer 10 has moved into the proper position.Thereafter, the golfer 50 can begin the downswing.

Referring to FIG. 5, the golfer 50 is shown performing a downswing.During a downswing, the golfer 50 brings the head 55 of the club 54 incontact with the ball 52. When an elbow area 60 of the golfer 50 comesinto proximity of and/or actual contact with the training device 10 a,the training device 10 a will provide feedback to the golfer 50. It hasbeen discovered that bringing the area of the elbow 60 close to the hipof the golfer 50, it will reduce the phenomenon known as going “over thetop.” This phenomenon is when the golfer 50 swings the club 54 from theoutside to the inside of the target line. Generally, this creates aslicing action, driving the ball to a location undesired by the golfer50.

FIG. 6 shows the golfer 50 completing the swing cycle. As stated in thebackground section, golfers, especially untrained ones, have a tendencyof not following through properly when swinging the club 54. Thetraining device 10 b, when coming into proximity of and/or into contactwith the chin 58 of the golfer 50, it will emit feedback to the golfer50, informing the golfer 50 of his full shoulder turn and properlycompleted swing path.

It has been observed that by providing feedback from the trainingdevices 10 a-10 c, the untrained golfer can quickly become a trainedgolfer because the training devices 10 a-10 c provide instant feedbackif the golfer 50 is swinging the golf club 54 properly. Generally, inthe past, this could only be accomplished by receiving input from athird party, such a golf trainer or golf partner or using a cumbersomedevice. However, the training devices 10 a-10 c can provide thisfeedback in a matter less embarrassing and more convenient to the golfer50.

It should also be understood that the buzzer 32 of FIG. 2 may also be anaudible device, such as a speaker. As the golfer 50 is performing theswing cycle, buzzer 32 may emit an audible sound for providing positiveencouragement and/or entertainment to the golfer.

As a person skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the abovedescription is meant as an illustration of the principles of thisinvention. This description is not intended to limit the scope orapplication of this invention in that the invention is susceptible tomodification, variation and change, without departing from spirit ofthis invention, as defined in the following claims.

1. A method for training a golfer, the method comprising the steps of:determining if an elbow area of a swing arm of the golfer is in closeproximity with a hip training device attached to a hip of the golferwhen the golfer is performing a downswing; and providing feedback to thegolfer if an elbow area of a swing arm of the golfer is in closeproximity with the hip training device when the golfer is performing thedownswing.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein close proximity is lessthan 5 inches
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein close proximity isactual contact.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hip trainingdevice comprises a contact sensor.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein thehip training device comprises a proximity sensor.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising the steps of: determining if a chin of the golferis in close proximity with a first shoulder training device attached toa first shoulder of the golfer when the golfer is performing thebackswing; and providing feedback to the golfer if the chin of thegolfer is in close proximity with the first shoulder training devicewhen the golfer is performing the backswing.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising the steps of: determining if a chin of the golfer isin close proximity with a first shoulder training device attached to afirst shoulder of the golfer when the golfer has completed a golf swing;and providing feedback to the golfer if the chin of the golfer is inclose proximity with the first shoulder training device when the golferhas completed the golf swing.
 8. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: determining if a chin of the golfer is in closeproximity with a first shoulder training device attached to a firstshoulder of the golfer when the golfer is performing a backswing;providing feedback to the golfer if the chin of the golfer is in closeproximity with the first shoulder training device when the golfer isperforming the backswing; determining if a chin of the golfer is inclose proximity with a second shoulder training device attached to asecond shoulder of the golfer when the golfer has completed a golfswing; and providing feedback to the golfer if the chin of the golfer isin close proximity with the second shoulder training device when thegolfer has completed the golf swing.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe first and second shoulder training devices each comprise a contactsensor.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second shouldertraining devices each comprise a proximity sensor.
 11. A golfer trainingdevice, the golfer training device comprising: a sensor; a feedbackoutput device configured to output a feedback; a processor incommunication with the sensor and the feedback output device; andwherein the processor is configured to instruct the feedback outputdevice to output a feedback when the sensor is in close proximity toeither a elbow or chin of a golfer.
 12. The device of claim 11, whereinthe sensor is a proximity sensor.
 13. The device of claim 11, whereinthe sensor is a contact sensor.
 14. The device of claim 11, wherein thefeedback output device is a buzzer.
 15. The device of claim 11, whereinthe processor is a 555 timer.
 16. The device of claim 11, wherein thedevice further comprises a belt clip for attaching to the belt of thegolfer.
 17. The device of claim 11, wherein the device further comprisesan attachment mechanism for attaching to the shoulder of the golfer. 18.The device of claim 17, wherein the attachment mechanism is Velcro. 19.The device of claim 17, wherein the attachment mechanism is a clothespin.
 20. The device of claim 11, further comprising an audible devicefor encouraging the golfer.